Baruch College Campus High School (BCCHS) is a public high school located in the Flatiron District in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Baruch College Campus High School received the highest number of applications among all of the New York City public high schools in 2011. BCCHS is renowned for its high academic standards, advisory program and perfect graduation rate. In 2012, BCCHS ranked 489 in the U.S. News & World Report list of best "gold-medal" U.S. high schools.
History
Baruch College Campus High School was a vision between Anthony Alvarado, the former superintendent of Community School District 2, and Matthew Goldstein, the President of Baruch College. They wanted to create a small, liberal arts college preparatory high school on a college campus. In 1997, the school was established. Jill Myers was the principal for the first 6 years in the original location of the school on 18th Street. The school was later moved to 17 Lexington Avenue's upper floors. In 2009, the school moved to 55 East 25th Street between Park and Madison Avenues, which is near Baruch College of The City University of New York.
Enrollment
Admission to BCCHS is based on a screening process whereby the school evaluates and ranks all applicants based on their previous school year's final academic record, standardized test scores, attendance and punctuality. The demographics of the students is as follows: 61 percent Asian, 22 percent white, 11 percent Hispanic, and 6 percent black.
Total school enrollment is just over 400 students. In 2011, 7,770 students applied to BCCHS, which was the highest number of applications received by any non-specialized high school in the city. Only 105 students were admitted as freshmen.
Admissions
Students applying for admission to BCCHS must have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 85 or above and a score of two to four on the New York State ELA and Math exams. However, due to the large number of applications the school receives each year, they typically admit students that have a GPA in the mid to high 90s and a score of 3 or 4 on the NYS ELA and math exams. Priority is given to students who reside in Manhattan's District 2, then to all Manhattan residents and then to students who live in other boroughs of New York City.
Facilities
The school currently occupies the first five floors of 55 East 25th Street. Facilities include a gymnasium, a library and a computer laboratory. Previously, the school was located at 17 Lexington Avenue on the 10th floor of the old Baruch College building.
Students can use a few of the facilities at Baruch College, such as the Newman Library.
Academics
The required courses are all honors-level courses. Students must earn a grade of 70 or above to pass a course.
Note: All students are required to take the AP exam if enrolled an AP class.
Students take electives in their junior and senior year. In the past, electives include Psychology, Writing and Film, Math and Space, Computers, Writing, Art and Spontaneity, Drumming, Music, Mythology and Folklore, and Internship.
Students are also offered the opportunity to take selected Baruch College courses free of charge beginning the summer of their junior year. Before a senior graduates, they are expected to complete a thesis on a topic approved by their advisor.
In addition to fulfilling their academic requirements, students are also required to read at least 25 books per year as well as complete 20 hours of community service each academic year.
Extracurricular Activities
Athletics
- Baseball (Boys Varsity)
- Basketball (Boys and Girls Varsity and Boys Jr. Varsity)
- Soccer (Boys and Girls Varsity)
- Softball (Girls Varsity)
- Volleyball (Girls Varsity)
- Wrestling (Boys and Girls Varsity)
- Fencing (Girls Varsity)
Sports Recognition
BCCHS student athletes participate in competitive sports in the Public Schools Athletic League.
- The girl's basketball team has remained one of the most competitive in the city in the A Division. In 2009, the team won a championship title.
- The wrestling team won the PSAL City Championship Tournament in 2010, sending six wrestlers to the finals.
Student Organizations
Academic
- Book Club
- Model United Nations
- National Honors Society
- SAT Club
Environmentalism
- Lorax
Humanitarianism
- ACT International
- Blue Angels
- Red Cross Club
- United Nations Children's Fund Club
- Baruch Animals Right Klub (BARK)
Student Life
- Graduation Committee - This committee decides on the types of awards that will be presented at graduation.
- Prom Committee - This committee decides on the prom theme.
- Senior Trip Committee - This committee decides where the Senior Class will go on their senior trip.
- Student Government Organization
Performing Arts
- Chorus Line
- Bollywood Dance Club
- Film Club
Publications
- The 411 Press
The 411 Press is the official school newspaper of BCCHS.
It is a monthly newspaper featuring four sections: Baruch News, Editorial, Sports, and Entertainment.
The staff hold meetings every Wednesday throughout the school year.
- Yearbook Committee
Social
- Asian American Club
- Japanese Exchange
- Denmark Exchange
- Gay-Straight Alliance
- SQUAD
Sports
- Running Club
- Badminton Club
Traditions
There are Annual Pep rallies throughout the year hosted by the Student Government.
Greenkill
Every year, the freshman class embarks upon an overnight trip to Greenkill, New York. The trip is intended to promote social unity among freshmen.
Cultural Show
First organized by the Asian American Club in 2006, the annual show features student performances that celebrate the cultural diversity within the school.
Dance Competition
With dance integrated in the Physical Education curriculum, every student will eventually learn to square dance, hustle (dance), salsa (dance), and swing (one dance per year). A group of students practice with professional dancers and compete in pairs to win a trophy.
Film Festival
Films created by students and faculty are shown at the annual festival, which is organized by the Film Club, the oldest club in existence at the school.
Evening in the Arts
Organized in 2009, Evening in the Arts is a celebration of the arts happening within the Baruch community. Performances include drumming, music, drama and art displays from Baruch students, particularly from those students enrolled in AP Studio Art (in 2011-2012 school year will be known as Advanced Art). The celebration occurs toward the end of the school year and is held in the school cafeteria.
Sports Banquet
Student athletes, coaches, families, and friends celebrate the accomplishments of Baruch's athletic year. The Banquet includes awards to recognize the scholar athletes of the year. The celebrations usually end with a compilation video made by a student, highlighting each team's accomplishments.
Field Day
After being absent for a few years, Field Day was reintroduced back in 2002 by a former advisory group. The event occurs at the end of each school year when the majority of the student body as well as faculty members attend a social outing in Central Park in New York, NY. For an entire school day, students participate in peer-led activities and represent their advisories in competitive games. These events are hosted by Sophomores who plan out the theme of the day, games to play, and other creative activities that enhance Baruch spirit and teamwork. This is a fun and relaxing day for students and teachers after a busy year full of homework, projects and exams.
Advisory Trip
Each semester, advisories take a variety of trips to get to know one other better. Advisories have taken trips to local parks such as Central Park, as well as restaurants, billiard halls, movie theaters, ice skating rinks, bowling alleys, and even to school to have a party. These trips typically occur on Friday's from 12pm to 3 pm and days vary between grades.
Senior Trip
Often, the graduating class goes on a Senior class trip to Florida. Exceptions include 2005 and 2009 when the graduating class decided to go skiing in upstate New York, 2011 when the graduating class decided to go to Cape Cod in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and 2013 when they went to Virginia Beach, Virginia.
References
External links
- Baruch Official Website
- Baruch Athletics
- PSAL- Baruch College Campus High School School Profile
- DOE Baruch College Campus High School Page
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